The Libyan Desert, or eastern part of the Sahara, contains a con siderable number of oases or fertile tracts, which support a moderate population. Nearly all of them contain extensive groves of date-treos and fields in which dhurra is grown. [Enver ; AUGILA.) has been ascertained that no rain falls along tho coast south of Cape Juby. Some showers fall annually in the countries south of Mount Atlas, but it is not known how far inland they extend. These showers fall between August and November. Along the coast heavy dews occur in the summer months. In the interior the wind blows almost without interruption from the east, and in the day-time frequently with the violence of a gale, which however is generally followed by a dead calm after sunset. The strong wind moderates the heat of the burning sun, and hence the nights are usually morn insup portable than the noon-day heat. The violent gales frequently raise the loom sand in such quantities that a layer of nearly equal portions of sand and air, and rising about 20 feet above the surface of the ground, seems to divide the purer atmosphere from the solid earth. This sand, when agitatedi by whirlwinds, sometimes buries cafilas, and often puts them into the greatest confusion. The degree of heat to which these countries are subject is variously stated. On the southern border of the Sahara the thermometer at noon in summer rises to 107'; iu some other places to 120° and 140°. The greatest degree of heat which is experienced in the interior of the Sahara seems to occur in August and September, at which time caravans do not travel, though it is the season in which tho northern parts of the desert are refreshed by showers of rain.
most useful domestic animal is the camel, without which these extensive deserts could not be traversed. The camels which are reared by the tribes that inhabit the desert are distinguished by their extraordinary speed and abstinence, and known in northern Africa by the name of ' heiries,' or maharhies.' Next to the camel the most useful animal is the goat, which is very abundant in the Sabel, as the dry pastures are more adapted to it than to sheep. Sheep are also common. There are some black cattle of a small breed, but only in those places which have good pasture. Horses are rare in the Sahel, bat more numerous farther east. There are lions and panthers, and some other smaller wild animals. Gazelles are frequent in all places where bushes and shrubs occur, and in a few places antelopes are met with. In the deserts bordering on Egypt the Dipus jerboa abounds. In the Sahel ostriches are very numerous, and they are hunted by the natives for their feathers from May to July. Vultures and ravens are the only birds that inhabit the deserts, except on some of the lakes along the rocky hills between Fezzan and Bilma, where there are snipes and wild-ducks. In some parts the Guinea-fowl occurs. There are also serpents in the desert The vegetable productions are few in number. Date-trees are only found in the oases of the eastern districts and at the foot of Mount Atlas. The Tibbooe, a native tribe of the Libyan Desert, cultivate gufsuls: • species of millet, and a little cotton. Among the wild
plant, there are some species of mimosas, of acacias, and tho Hedy. wren alAuji, a thorny plant about IS incise high, which remains green all the year round, grows in many parts of the desert in the sand, and is eagerly eaten by the camels : it is nearly the only plant that supplies them with food while they are traversing the desert. Near the most south-western corner of the Sahel are extensive woods con sisting of acacia-trees, from which by far the greatest part of the gum is obtained which in Europe is consumed nnder the name of gum &rabic.
The minerals are limited to Iron-ore and salt. Iron-ore occurs between Fezzan and Bilma. Salt is obtained from springs and lake., and it occurs also in extensive beds in the Sahel It is of great Import ance to the inhabitants, as It furnishes them with the most abundant article of commerce. The countries south of the Sahara, compre hended under the name of Soodan, or Sedan, appear to have no salt, and all the salt which is consumed in them Is brought from the Sahara. The only places permanently inhabited In the Sabel are those in the neighbourhood of which salt Is found.
/sAabitesaiss—A great number of independent tribes are dispersed over the Sahara. They belong to four nations, the Moore, the Tua ricks, Tibboos, and Arabs. The Moors seem to be in poeeession of the whole country west of the road leading from Timbuctoo to Dr h. They are a branch of the Moors who inhabit Merocco, but have a greater mixture of negro blood in them. Their complexion Is In general nearly black, but the red colour under It is perceptible : their hair Is straight ; they have a spare body and rather slender legs; the spine la slightly curved, the face long, the cheeks hollow, the eyes sunk but lively. They speak the Moghrebin dialect of the Arabic language, and though they live on the produce of their herds, and consequently lead a nomadic life, they take care of the education of their children, all of whom are taught reading and some part of the Kollin. They are very expert in tanning and preparing leather and in manufacturing bracelets, earrings, and necklaces of gold, in making knives and daggers and other arms, and they are even expert In weaving. Many of them are merehants, and a still greater number are employed in accom panying the asides on the route between Drab and Timbnctoo. The numerous tribal of the Tuarlcks occupy the centre of the Sahara, or that country which lies between the two great caravan routes that traverse It from north to south. The form of their body and their language prove that they belong to the aboriginal Inhabitants of Northern Africa, who are known by the name of Berbera, and In Marasco are called the (Brasznal The Tibboos occupy the tract between Ferman and Lake Tchad, and an extensive country extending east of this line towards the boundary of Egypt. In features they strongly resemble the negroes. Most of them are quite black, though some have copper-ooloured faces. A brief general notice of the tribes of the Sahara will be found in the article AFRICA.